Juventus drew 1-1 with Lille as visitors for the fourth day of the Champions League stage. Juan David Cabal started and came off in the 68th minute, after a game in which he was involved in the rival’s goal by missing the mark and giving space to Jonathan David to finish. The Italian press gave him a 5.5 rating, but for Thiago Motta his team’s real failure was in the attacking phase.
Cabal did not have a good game, although Motta’s biggest faults were in the finish. Colombia were constantly being beaten by the Lille winger, who had to resort to fouls to stop him and on one occasion received a yellow. He won just three of eight face-offs and lost the ball nine times.
“He faced Zhegrova, a tree on the wing, and suffered many times, even getting a yellow card. The initial mistake he made in France’s opening game was that he failed to stop the Kosovo winger who then assisted David,” mentioned Tuttosportwhich gave him 5.5 rating points.
Thiago Motta, happy with the point in France
The coach was grateful for what his players did during the visit to Lille. Although he minimized the way they scored the goal, He said their biggest difficulty was generating offensive play.
“In the offensive phase in the last 20 meters we could have been better in the first halfand the quality increased in the second half,” said Motta.
he said he was satisfied with what was done in the park. “We wanted another result, but I’m happy with the performance. We can improve on certain aspects, but overall I’m happy with what my team did.”
Cabal has resumed prominence at Juventus, the Colombian has confidence in the coach, who chose him to rebuild a defensive line hit by Bremer’s injury. Juan David already has 619 minutes with the club, he has started 8 of 9 games played. The next challenge will be on Saturday, November 9 in Serie A when they host Torino.
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone. Today, we have a special guest joining us, renowned football analyst, Lucas Fernandez. Lucas, thank you for being here!
Lucas Fernandez: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss such an interesting match.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. Juventus recently faced Lille in the Champions League, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. What were your thoughts on Juventus’s overall performance?
Lucas: Well, I think Juventus showed some resilience to come back with a draw, especially considering how difficult it can be to play away in Europe. However, their attacking phase, as highlighted by Thiago Motta, certainly left a lot to be desired.
Editor: That’s an interesting point. Juan David Cabal, the Colombian defender, had quite a challenging match, receiving a rating of just 5.5 from the Italian press. What did you see in his performance?
Lucas: Cabal did struggle. He missed an important mark that allowed Jonathan David to score for Lille, and he had a tough time handling Zhegrova, Lille’s winger. His defensive mishaps contributed to the mounting pressure on Juventus’s backline. Winning only three of eight face-offs and losing the ball nine times indicates that it was not his day defensively.
Editor: It sounds like he played a crucial role in the dynamics of the match but not in a positive way. In your opinion, how much does a player’s performance affect the overall team morale?
Lucas: Great question! Individual performances can heavily influence team morale. If a defender feels he’s let his teammates down, it can create a ripple effect throughout the squad. However, it’s vital for team leaders to rally their teammates, emphasizing that it’s a collective effort. The focus now should be on overcoming this setback.
Editor: You mentioned Thiago Motta targeting the attacking phase as the real issue. What do you believe needs to change for Juventus to improve their goal-scoring chances?
Lucas: Juventus needs to be more clinical in their finishing. They had opportunities but failed to convert. This reflects a larger issue of creating a cohesive attacking strategy. It’s not just about individual brilliance but also combinations and understanding among players. They need to work on their movement off the ball and linking up effectively in the final third.
Editor: It’s clear there’s room for improvement. With the group stage of the Champions League still ongoing, what should Juventus focus on as they head into their next matches?
Lucas: They need to build confidence, especially in the attacking department. Establishing a consistent starting eleven and finding key partnerships on the pitch will be vital. Defensively, they must ensure the mistakes don’t become a habit, or they risk further damage in crucial upcoming fixtures.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Lucas. As the Champions League progresses, it will be fascinating to see if Juventus can turn their fortunes around.
Lucas: Absolutely! Each match is a new opportunity, and I’m eager to see how they respond in the coming weeks.
Editor: Thank you once again for joining us, and for all our readers, stay tuned for more updates and analyses on European football!